Recent Posts
Sound Transit Greenlights Overnight Express Bus to Sea-Tac Airport
Late-night bus service starting March 28 will give riders with late flights at Sea-Tac more breathing room. The pilot is one element of Sound Transit's planned overnight bus network queued to launch this fall.
Washington House Approves Neighborhood Cafe Bill in Early Floor Vote
House Bill 1175 requires local governments to allow corner stores and cafes, but gives them wide latitude to regulate them. A nearly unanimous floor vote early in session signals momentum for the bill, which is less prescriptive than a similar bill that died in the Washington Senate in 2024.
Katie Wilson Orders Denny Bus Lane to Help Route 8 Riders
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson rolled out two executive orders on Thursday morning, seeking to get major initiatives rolling: expanding emergency housing for homeless residents and bus lanes to speed up the Route 8 bus. Wilson has set a deadline of April 17 for a Denny Way bus lane implementation plan.
Climate Advocate Nilu Jenks Announces D5 Seattle Council Campaign
Lake City activist Nilu Jenks is the first to jump in the race for Seattle City Council’s District 5. The special election could determine control of the council next year. The first-generation Iranian-American is stressing the need to protect immigrants and the environment, as Trump attacks both.
Toshiko Hasegawa Jumps in King County Council District 2 Race
Touting a focus on social housing, transit-oriented development, and lidding I-5, Hasegawa is the second candidate to announce in the race to fill Girmay Zahilay's former King County Council seat.
2026: The Year the Washington Legislature Catches Its Breath on Housing
With middle housing, transit-oriented development, and parking reform all checked off the list, the Washington legislature's 2026 session looks to be more sedate when it comes to housing. But there are still some impactful reforms on deck tackling some of the smaller issues inhibiting housing production.
One Week In, Katie Wilson Charts the Path Ahead
The Urbanist recently sat down with Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson to get the latest on initiatives she has cooking now that her team is in office. We touched on emergency housing, bus lanes, World Cup preparations, Sound Transit, culture change at the police department, and more.
Op-Ed: How to Close Sound Transit’s 35-Billion-Dollar Gap Without Breaking the System
Sound Transit needs a systematic strategy for closing its $35 billion funding gap. Delivering the expansions promised to voters is possible, but requires political leadership and an appetite for a sea change within the agency. A former SDOT director offers a road map.







